Immediate Impact of Rewetting on Carbon Dynamics in a Degraded Irish Raised Bog

Elena Aitova (), Florence Renou-Wilson, David Wilson, William Crowley and Terry R. Morley ()
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Elena Aitova: School of Geography, Archaeology & Irish Studies, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
Florence Renou-Wilson: School of Biology and Environmental Science, College of Science, University College Dublin, D04 VIW8 Dublin, Ireland
David Wilson: Earthy Matters Environmental Consultants, F92 HX03 Glenvar, Ireland
William Crowley: Wetland Surveys Ireland, The Shed @ The Mill, Killarney Road, Gortamullin, V93 WF63 Kenmare, Ireland
Terry R. Morley: School of Geography, Archaeology & Irish Studies, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-29

Abstract: Peatlands are the most efficient terrestrial ecosystems for long-term carbon (C) storage. In Ireland, approximately 84% of raised bogs are degraded, contributing an estimated emission of 1.9 Mt C year −1 , nearly one-third of which originates from domestic peat extraction sites. Rewetting aims to reduce C emissions and restore sequestration capacity; however, immediate post-restoration effects remain poorly quantified. We investigated the short-term impact of rewetting on C fluxes over a 3-year period at a former domestic peat extraction site. CO 2 and CH 4 fluxes were measured across rewetted and adjacent unrestored areas with matched ecotopes (vegetation communities). Results show that rewetting led to substantial reductions in C emissions across all ecotopes. Compared to unrestored areas, the Sub-marginal and Facebank ecotopes had lower average annual C emissions by 0.88 and 0.74 t C ha −1 , respectively. In the cutover bog, rewetting reduced emissions in Eriophorum and Molinia ecotopes by 2.17 and 0.59 t C ha −1 year −1 , respectively. This study demonstrates that rewetting led to immediate carbon reduction, and can deliver immediate climate mitigation benefits. Expanding restoration to include undesignated domestic extraction bogs offers a cost-effective strategy to reduce emissions from degraded peatlands in the near term.

Keywords: peatlands; emissions; restoration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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